Ashcroft Council: The Terminal and Economic Development

PRESENT: Mayor Barbara Roden Councillor Marilyn Anderson Councillor Jonah Anstett – via team player Councillor Nadine Davenport Councillor Debra Tuohey Daniela Dyck, Interim Chief Administrative Officer Yoginder Bhalla, Chief Financial Officer and the Media.

EXCUSED: Public – Meeting closed to the public due to COVID-19, email comments and questions accepted. The HUB Online Network is recording and posting the meeting to their news feed. Prior to the meeting, Mayor Roden advised the gallery that the meeting was being recorded by the HUB Online Network.

FOR ACTION 5.1 BC Gaming Grant M/S Roden / Anderson That the BC Gaming Grant Resolution from the Village of Hazelton be received and filed.” CARRIED Unanimous 5.2 School District No. 74 (Gold Trail) – Request for Letter of Support for their application to expand child care M/S Tuohey / Anderson That Council provide a letter of support to School District #74 in support of their application for Child Care Licensing.” CARRIED Unanimous.

 BYLAWS 8.1 Bylaw No. 835 – Five Year Financial Plan First Three Readings M/S Roden / Anderson “That the Village of Ashcroft Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw No. 835 be give first three readings this 27th day of April, 2020.” CARRIED Unanimous 8.2 Bylaw No. 836 – Tax Rates 2020 M/S Roden / Davenport “That the Village of Ashcroft Tax Rates Bylaw No. 836 be given first three readings this 27th day of April, 2020.” CARRIED Unanimous.

REQUEST FOR DECISION 9.1 Housing Needs Assessment CARRIED 2 M/S Roden / Anderson “That Council approve the Village of Ashcroft Housing Needs Assessment and that the document be made available to the public on the Village website.” Unanimous 9.2 Economic Development Recovery Select Committee M/S Roden / Anderson 1. “That Council establish a Select Committee of Council to support Economic Development and COVID-19 Recovery and further that the Committee be comprised of two (2) members of Council, up to four (4) members from the business community, the Village of Ashcroft Economic Development contracted agent, one (1) representative from CFSUN, and no more than four (4) community not for profit members;” and, 2. “That Mayor Roden and Councillor Anderson be appointed to the committee as the Council participants and Councillor Davenport be appointed as the alternate;” and, 3. “That the Terms of Reference be adopted as amended.” CARRIED Unanimous.

From the Ashcroft Terminal: Ashcroft Terminal will be taking an important added safety measure to protect the public and the people working at Ashcroft Terminal by installing a gate on Evans Road at the entrance to our industrial property. We understand that restricting access on the Ashcroft Terminal site may affect some residents who currently access a portion of Ashcroft Terminal’s private property, referred to as the slough. We are keen to work with the community and First Nations to understand the concerns, and to look for alternatives to accessing the riverfront in an area other than the slough. Why Ashcroft Terminal needs to enforce no trespassing Ashcroft Terminal will be an active construction site over the next 18 to 24 months and beyond. We are carefully planning to manage the danger and risk involved on an active construction and industrial site and are taking every step we can to prevent the potential of someone being hit by a train, hurt by heavy equipment, or injuring themselves by tripping or falling. Unfortunately, we have already experienced a grave accident by a trespasser on the slough. Protecting the public, our employees and construction teams is Ashcroft Terminal’s top priority. We have both a legal responsibility and a moral duty to prevent accidents.